Stay Close

Lately something that has really been on my mind and heart is the transition the 8th graders in Six78 will be making to high school ministry (Liquid).  I started working in Six78 three years ago, when these same students were making the transition from 5th to 6th grade, and in that time I have developed a love for these students like I never thought I would.  In this time I have been able to see God move in these young men and women's lives in such an incredible way; They've been built up, broken down, challenged and changed.  I've been able to share thousands of laughs, seen many tears, and have witnessed such an amazing transformation from little boys and girls to young men and women.

I say all this because I am excited to see how God will use them while they're in high school and even after in college and post-college.  The Lord has been putting it on my heart to share a few things with them though before they leave.  This is something God has shown me recently, but I think it's something we can apply to our lives at any point; when we're young, old, happy, sad, angry, joyful, etc.  It's not even something profound, but because of it's simplicity, it is profound (I hope that makes sense, haha).  So here it is:

1. Worship and Praise God (even when you don't feel like it)
2. Pray (even when you don't feel like it)
3. Read your Bible (even when you don't feel like it)

  I know, incredibly profound!  Something I've found though is it is so easy to worship and praise when I'm in a good place.  I just got a lot of money!  Praise the Lord!  I just got a girlfriend (one day!!!), Praise God!  It's more difficult though to praise Him when you don't feel His presence, when things are going bad, when you're not in a good place.  This is where He will truly reveal Himself to you.  This is when you need Him most.  In Luke 19:40, Jesus tells us that if we keep quiet "the stones will cry out."  He doesn't need us to cry out His praise, but we need Him so that is why we praise.

Same for prayer and reading the Bible.  It's easy to do when we're on fire for Him, but what about when we're not?  This is when He really wants to talk to you.  It's in the difficult times that He is growing, shaping and perfecting us.  1 Peter 5:10 says God has called us to eternal glory AFTER we have suffered for a while, but He will "perfect, establish, strengthen and settle" us.  He can only do this if we seek Him through these times though.

Not the most amazing message, but I think it's such an important reminder.  I have to remember that no matter what is happening, Jesus died on the cross for me.  And because of that, I will live for Him when I feel like it and when I don't.

- Sean Fryer